Overhead conveyer system



Dec. 3, 1940. F, Q HARRIS 2,223,870

OVERHEAD GONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 25, 193B 27 2/ j; ii=i@" 42 44 INVENTOR. FIPA/VK C. HARP/S Y M ATTORNEYS Patented 3, v1940 PATENT OFFICE azzas'zo OVERHEAD coNvErEa s rs'rEM Frank c. nuns, memo, ohio, assignmto The American MonoBail Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 23, 1938, Serial No. 247,420

3Clalms.

This invention relates to electried overhead conveyer systems and more particularly to insulators or supports for the conductor bars of such systems. A

| In the electrification of overhead rail runways it is desirable to have the conductors which extend along the overhead track arranged as compactly as possible. A compact arrangement of conductors lessens the expense of construction lo and installation, the possibility of contact with the conductors by materials being handled on the floor below is practically eliminated, and the cost of switches and the space required by switches is greatly reduced as compared to a system embody- 1| ing trolley wires extending along the rail because of the fact that the throw or shift of the switches in compact systems is reduced to less than half the throw or shift required with trolley ,wire systems of the same capacity.

80 For the above reasons, among others, electrined overhead rail runways embodying closely spaced relatively rigid conductor lbars are very advantageous and it is an object of my invention to provide a simple and economical form of $5 insulator for supporting such conductor bars along an overhead track or crane runway. Another object of my invention is to provide such an insulator 1n which the leakage distances along the surfaces of the insulator are increased without 80 increasing the spacing of the conductors, whereby the insulator can be made very compact without danger of leakage taking place. Another obect is to provide an insulator adapted to support one or more conductors along a track or runway.

85 Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the. following description thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing. The essential characteristcs are summarized in the claims.

40 In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a section of overhead track showing an insulator made according to my invention secured thereto and supporting four rigid conductor bars shown in Figure 1, the line I-I on Figure 2 45 illustrating the section on which Figure l was taken; Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section showing one part o f my insulator; Figure 4 is a similar plan view showing another part thereof.

4 As shown in the drawing my invention may be l applied to the electrification of overhead conveyer systems embodying, for example, a track indicated generally at I0 and having flanges Il and l2 for supporting the wheels of a trolley (not shown), a vertical web I3 and an upper flange il. In the system illustrated there are four conductor bars I5 extending longitudinally of the track Il on either side thereof. 0f course, a greater or smaller number of conductor bars may be employed depending upon the requirements of the system, but I have illustrated four as constituting 5 a typical installation adapted particularly for three phase alternating current, the fourth conductor being employed for a control circuit.

The conductors, which are channel shaped in cross section, are supported by insulators comprising outervmembers indicated generally at 2li and inner membersindicated generally at 2|.

'I'he members 2l are provided with longitudinally extending recesses or grooves having inner walls 22 and 23 disposed substantially at right angles 15 to each other and adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the anges 2l and webs 25 of the respective conductor bars.

'I'he conductor bars are retained in position by the inner members 2`I which are provided with n longitudinally extending surfaces 28 and 21 adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the flanges 24 and webs 25 of the conductor bars. The members 2U are provided with slightly tapered recesses 30 which receive the projections g5 or sleeves 3l on the members 2i thus holding the two members in proper relationship. A passageway 32 is provided through each of the projections 3l to receive the bolts 33 which function to clamp the inner and outer members together and o also to retain the insulator assembly in position on the web I3, the bolt passing through an opening 35 of the web and clamping the projecting bosses 36 of the outer members 20 against the opposed lateral surfaces of the web. 35

In order to prevent leakage of current from one conductor bar to another or to the bolt 3l or web I3, the parts of the insulators are shaped to provide extended paths over the surfaces thereof, thus increasing the leakage distances u and reducing the possibility of leakage taking place due to moisture or dirt accumulating on the surfaces of the parts of the insulator. To this end the recesses 30 and projections have been extended within the bosses 3B in order that the 45 path along the contacting surfaces of the parts of the insulators from the conductors to the bolt 33 will be as long as possible. For the same purpose, the inner members 2| are counter-sunk as at 40 to receive the heads Il of the bolts, and 50 the nuts 42. Also the inner members 2l are provided with annular projections surrounding the counter-sunk openings in order to further increase the leakage distance on the exterior surface of the insulators between the conductor bars and the bolt. The bosses 36 and the external surfaces 45 of the outer members 20 provide a large leakage distanceon the surface of the insulators between the various conductors and the web I3.

'I'he parts making up my insulator can be readily molded of insulating materials such as condensation -products of phenol which have high dielectric strength and ample mechanical strength to withstand any forces involved. The design requires only two Ainsulating members, identical parts being employed on opposite sides of the web. Of course, if only two conductors are employed they can be spaced on the same side of the web requiring only one set of parts instead of the pairs of parts illustrated in the drawing. The insulators also will function to support only one conductor bar on one side of the web, as a single conductor bar can be effectively clamped between the inner and the outer members, the engagement between the projections 3i and the recesses 30 insuring proper positioning of the members 20 and 2|*to securely clamp a single conductor bar. Also, if it is desired to mount more than two conductors on the same side of the track, two or more of my insulators can be disposed one above the other on the track, or may be supported on brackets extending outwardly from the track.

Insulators made according to my invention can be readily installed and because of the design of my insulators very compact electrilcation systems can be employed with close spacing of the conductor bars without danger of leakage of current. Thus electried overhead rail runway systems embodying my insulators can be Constructed at low cost because of the ease of installing the insulators and because the insulators permit the design and construction of compact systems.

I n the foregoing speciilcation I have described in detail a preferred form of my invention. Various changes and modiilcations therein willbe evident to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specic embdiment described herein or in any manner other than by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, in an overhead conveyer system, a track having lower ilanges adapted to support a trolley thereon and a central web portion, rigid conductors extending along said track on opposite sides of said web portion, and insulating means for supporting said conductors comprising a pair of outer members each grooved to receive a pair of conductors, said members being disposed on opposite sides of said web portion, a pair of inner members fitting within said outer. members and arranged to retain said conductors therein, two longitudinally spaced bolts disposed between said pairs of conductors and extending through coaxial openings in said inner and outer members and through said web portion to clamp said members together and against said web portion, the openings through said inner members being countersunk and said inner members each being provided with hollow sleeves surrounding said bolts and extending within recesses in said outer members to increase the leakage distances between said` conductors and said bolts.

2. In combination, in an overhead conveyer system, a track having lower anges adapted to support a trolley thereon and a central web portion, rigid channel section conductors each having a pair of anges and a web extending along said track on opposite sides of said web portion, and insulating means for supporting said conductors comprising a pair of outer members each grooved to receivea pair of conductors and to engage the outer surfaces of one flange and one web of each bar, said members being disposed on opposite sides of said web portion, a pair of inner members fitting within said outer members and arranged to retain said conductors therein', a bolt extending through coaxial openings in said inner and outer members and through said web portion to clamp said members together and against said web portion. said inner members being provided with hollow sleeves surrounding said bolt and extending away from said conductors within recesses in said outer members to increase the leakage distance between said conductors and said bolt.

3. In combination, in an overhead conveyer system, a track having lower flanges adapted to support a trolley thereon and a central web portion, a rigid `conductor extending along said track, and insulating means for supporting said conductor comprising an outer member grooved to receive said conductor, an inner member fitting within said outer member and arranged to retain said conductor therein, a bolt extending through coaxial openings in said inner and outer members and through said web portion to clamp and support said members, said inner member being provided with a hollow sleeve surrounding said bolt and extending away from said conductor within a recess in said outer member to increase the leakage distance between said conductor and said bolt.

FRANK C. HARRIS. 

